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Africa's gain from Obama win

[ Posted On: 2008-06-16 ]

Prof Noam Chomsky persuasively presents the case that American foreign policy and conduct is premised on, and driven by, a maniacal quest for global hegemony. This hegemonic pursuit is mostly, unrestrained by International law or ethic, and is driven by its own internal logic. It is driven by ideology (partly), but mostly by internal domestic corporate considerations. And corporations, whether in symbolic matters like iconography, or, the more substantive and pervasive ones, like military industrial complex, dominate social life.

Obama will be severely constrained within this context, if he manages to clinch the presidential quest. What then, are the likely implications to Africa of a black American presidency?

The Democratic Party nominee triumphed on a platform of change and hope. Within the US, this change agenda, though attractive, is superficial and limited. It does not attempt transformation of the ideological and basic structures and social relations. Though unprofound, it is not inelegant. It seeks to reduce, not reverse, the adversarial nature of politics that has divided the country into blue and red states, disempower the lobbying industry that throttles policy development into partisan interests and thus hindering search for consensus and pursuit of national interest; universal health provision and enhanced opportunity for education to minorities and large sections of society. The hope bit, represents all things to all people, and, thus simultaneously, both enticing, and, or, vacuous in policy content.

Common sense

It is a common sense agenda that should generate wide appeal, particularly coming after the neo-conservative nightmare, in the past decade. His agenda is not radical liberalism, but rather compassionate realism. It will reaffirm the American dream. If successful, it will moderate, not puncture racial stereotypes.

There will be no material reparations for slave trade, but it would provide immense psychological and moral relief to the descendants of slave owners, and, boost to the self-esteem of blacks (in the US, Latin America and Africa) and all disadvantaged groups, worldwide.

What would the Obama presidency portend for Africa? Could Africa carve a more central and more preferential place in US foreign policy? Would Africa’s interests or needs compete effectively for his attention? And, what would Africa need and expect?

Africa will certainly miss the 2015 Millennium Development Goals dateline, the 2020 Poverty Eradication Goals, and, for Kenya, the Vision 2030 looks more chimeral, with or without Obama as president and, notwithstanding the recent relaunch of the vision. But, in some sense, Africa will experience exhilaration.

The combination of an Obama presidency and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will concentrate searing global attention and focus on Africa. This will highlight its contradictions endemic corruption, widespread nderachievement, violence, pestilence, scandalous inequality and grinding poverty. The mess and hope thus revealed may jolt an Obama-led US and the world, to some useful tokenism; like more World Bank largesse and IMF (perhaps) benevolence; widespread military co-operation and re-armament on anti-terrorist type tasks. There will be no preferential mass African immigrants or massive student airlifts or specific relief to Africa to counter globalisation side effects. Whatever the phraseology, the greater question an Obama presidency would raise is whether Africa is redeemable, and, how?

The Obama presidency may project Africa positively, in some indirect but powerful ways. The Northern hemispheric perception on Africa is paternalistic, in the sense of Africa’s underperformance and excess and the need for imposition of externally generated solutions. That perception is also fatalistic, in the sense that, Africa is seen as beyond salvage.

The Obama presidency may dilute this northern hemispheric stereotype of Africa by a much more sympathetic calculation and appraisal of Africa’s condition. With his biological paternal ancestry rooted in Africa (Kenya) and stepfather from Asia (Indonesia) and an Anglo-Saxon mother of American extraction, Obama is uniquely placed to appreciate the transcontinental value differences, without imposing righteous value judgements. He can be an effective voice for Africa in key areas.

Positive movement or shift in such popular perceptions would enable the developed world to engage Africa more robustly in issues or areas of underperformance. For a start, the northbound flight of illicit capital obtained by corruption could be dealt with more decisively.

Second, a greater appreciation of the harmful impacts to Africa of globalisation and global trade imbalance might occur. In turn, the North might be less righteous on such areas as debt forgiveness, imbalance and iniquity in global trade. In Obama, the West will see a fusion of competence, ambition and hope in one black entity. This would be useful, but the actual burden of developing Africa, must remain with us.

Obama’s presidency will do little or nil, to instil in Africans, the capacity for better leadership choice. But there will be hope aplenty. Obama could infuse hope and ambition. But even he, must be wary, of being perceived as righteous or condescending.

Democratisation, transparency and accountability, may be more invigorated during his presidency. Unlike capital investment which demands cumbersome vvaluations, rogue regimes like Mugabe’s, could be handled by practiced hands at state department, with minimal assistance from the CIA. He would be bad for homegrown African despots and kleptocrats.

Could Africa experience a more accelerated and focused economic performance? Obama may, or may not, assist Angola, Chad and Nigeria to cure the so-called Dutch disease – an economic condition where resource-rich countries suffer certain economic deformities. Democratic Republic of Congo will remain a geological fraud, long after Obama; but Obama can help stabilise its politics, security and certainly help deter future cross-border invasions from neighbours. Indeed, because of his ancestry, US corporations might more easily penetrate and even out-compete others (Chinese) in certain places in Africa.

Global institutions like World Bank and IMF might be influenced to increase activity and lower ideological stridency in certain areas. There is precedence, most recently, during the Russian financial crisis (1998), when the Clinton presidency leaned on IMF to offer Russia economic support on purely political
calculations.

Africans expectations

Obama as president will possess the moral authority that comes with victimhood, and, assurance, of delivered hope and ambition. In this, he can, with minimal inhibitions, speak for, and to, Africa with deserved authority.

Are Africa’s expectations on an Obama presidency misplaced? First, these expectations defy categorisation. Second, Africa appreciates the limitations on the power and influence of US Presidency, more so, after Iraq. The African multitudes core need, is responsible leadership and accountable economic management.

Africa knows that high regard is earned. In this context, the burdens on Obama are reduced and the core responsibility remains with Africans.

But one place in Africa may experience noticeable transformation — Obama’s ancestral village in Alego, Siaya District. For starters could the grandmother miss the Washington inauguration on account of non-invitation? And who would surpass her instant global stardom on that day? It seems inconceivable that President Obama would not visit Alego, somewhere in his second or third year. Just imagine the spectacle! Something more enduring would remain behind.

The rationale for most of the above is three fold; first, the American presidency is, in a sense, a weak institution, by constitutional design, rule-bound bureaucracy and corporate power. For instance, whereas President Kibaki may choose to have any number of cabinet ministries, Obama can never create the American equivalent, of our own Ministry of Fisheries! He cannot affect the ideological balance in the Supreme Court, without a good fight.

Thirdly, and, last, sole superpower status creates unique global burdens and responsibilities and Africa will compete, at a disadvantage for his attention.

Finally, the first American African president has a sense of history; not least, to prove popular stereotypes on black capability misplaced and wrong. Africa will have to learn that, for better or worse, Obama is foremost an American, accountable wholly to an American constituency. His African interests and engagements will have to coincide with and extrapolate the vital interests of that constituency. Blackness of skin is pigmentation, and not, ideological. The biggest benefactors to Obama presidency outside the US would be the international or global institutions; ratification of International Criminal Court

Treaty, Kyoto Protocol and perhaps, accelerated global trade negotiations. The Middle East may experience genuine attention, but no miraculous solution to the Israel-Palestinian imbroglio; no precipitate withdrawal from Iraq, nor repudiation of the American energy interests, that determined its military misadventure there. And, Barack will not countenance a nuclear Iran.

Unique developments

For the rest of the world, the status quo will prevail. So, despite mild radicalism in rhetoric, this may be one of the most conservative and circumspect tenants at White House. As for me, having followed Obama with respectful sceptism through his "Dreams" and "Audacity" books, and despite common Nilotic ancestry, I am overawed with one American quality: An improbable land of opportunity.

Where else, would a person with such mixed heritage, ascend to the highest office within a generation? Indeed, where else would such a person, even entertain the dream!

Lastly, is Obama vulnerable to physical assassination? This is a rational person’s nightmare. It is an enticing prospect to racial and criminal malcontents within the US, with no agenda beyond the thrill. Enemies from within and abroad, including terrorists of all hues, would savour the prospect, for its disruptive domestic potential. Ultimately, the answer is a qualified, yes. First, every charismatic political figure, however, benevolent run the risk of premature physical termination. Second, no secret service or Praetorian Guard can guarantee any president, more than 51 per cent total security and safety.

But, what really is the likelihood of an Obama presidency? Republican party is discredited and stressed. Its geriatric and impulsive candidate and assorted neo-cons have created a GOP fatigue. Race is an issue. Fear of the unknown another. Obama lacks sufficient national exposure and foreign affairs and defence experience. The Democratic Party is hurting. But history has conspired to produce a black president in 2009.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: Maj OJH Oswago is a lawyer and a management consultant

| View Profile & All Articles By: Maj OJH Oswago |

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